BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Understating the role of small RNAs in gene regulatory networks - Bruno Santos DTSTART:20120608T123000Z DTEND:20120608T130000Z UID:TALK36689@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Suzy Stoodley DESCRIPTION:Small RNA is a specific determinant of silencing mechanisms th at can target RNA through base pairing to affect RNA stability and transla tion. This targeting process\, directly or indirectly\, can also target DN A and chromatin to introduce epigenetic modifications. In plants the set o f sRNAs produced are between the most complex and diverse of those present in any life form. These sRNAs have enormous potential to influence geneti c and epigenetic regulation because\, from analyses of transgenes\, it is clear that RNA silencing can have diverse effects. There can be RNA-mediat ed signalling between cells and complex interaction networks of RNA molecu les with positive feedback and amplification loops. In addition there can be epigenetic effects that\, once induced\, can persist between generation s.\n\nIn this project the main goal is to understand the role of sRNAs in gene regulatory networks. For this purpose a new algorithm was developed f or the identification of messenger RNAs that\, having been targeted by sRN As\, are the template for production of secondary sRNAs. These secondary s RNAs can then target other mRNAs and initiate cascades of sRNA production. Computer simulation was developed to test the performance of the algorith m in a variety of situations when compared to the existing methods. I also helped design experiments to better understand the properties that distin guish sRNAs with the ability to initiate secondary sRNA production from th ose that do not. In this talk I will review the progress done so far on th ese two objectives and discuss the ideas that will be developed on my thir d year. LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR